A day plan on foot
Ávila: the complete city walls and the Mirador de los Cuatro Postes
- From and to
- 09:30 to 17:30
- Duration
- Full day, ~8 hours
- Distance
- 6 km
- Steps
- 9
A day trip from Madrid to the most complete medieval wall in Europe (87 towers) and the city of Saint Teresa. Good for families; best Tuesday–Sunday (the walls are closed on Mondays). Full day, ~8 hours.
Drawn by Dr. Abdulmajeed Al-Mudarra
- Start
- Puerta del Carmen — Puerta del Alcázar / Plaza de Santa Teresa
- Finish
- the Four Posts viewpoint — Mirador de los Cuatro Postes
Ávila is the highest provincial capital in Spain (1130 m) — very cold in winter, even by day; the climb to the viewpoint is exposed to the sun in summer. The walls are closed on Mondays.
- 09:30
Walk
Ávila station
Estación de Ávila
Train from Madrid Chamartín/Príncipe Pío (~1:20–1:45), then 15 minutes on foot to Plaza de Santa Teresa.
Chamartín / Príncipe Pío → Ávila - 10:00
Visit
Church of San Vicente
Basílica de San Vicente
A Romanesque masterpiece outside the walls, with a carved tomb. 30 minutes.
- 10:45
Visit
Murallas de Ávila
Walking the walls (the Puerta del Alcázar section, then the Carmen section). An hour and a half. Tuesday–Sunday 10:00–17:00 in winter and until 20:00 in summer; closed Mondays — book online.
- 12:30
Visit
Cathedral of Ávila
Catedral de Ávila
A cathedral-fortress built into the walls, in red and white stone. 45 minutes.
- 13:30
Meal
Los Candiles
Los Candiles
A family-style Castilian lunch at C. Pedro de Lagasca 5. The beef “chuletón de Ávila” is the famous dish.
- 15:15
Visit
Plaza del Mercado Chico
Plaza del Mercado Chico
The main square inside the walls, then the church-convent of Santa Teresa. 45 minutes.
- 16:15
Rest
Yemas de Santa Teresa sweets
Yemas de Santa Teresa
Taste the famous egg-yolk sweets at Pl. José Tomé 4. 20 minutes.
- 16:45
Walk
Puerta del Puente
Puerta del Puente
Leave through the Puerta del Puente and go down to the Adaja river, then climb back up for 20 minutes. 40 minutes.
- 17:30
Visit
Mirador de los Cuatro Postes
The most famous panorama of the walled city, and most beautiful at sunset. 30 minutes.